Armory Sponsor
Posted: 6/13/2012 5:08:26 AM EDT
After looking long and hard for an empty crate to convert into a coffee table, I scratch built one. I initially filled it with my WWII rifle collection, now it's my American military arms display. 
Contents from top to bottom: SAI M1A- GI barrel, bolt, oprod, gas cylinder, trigger group and stock. Springfield Armory six digit (09-42) M1 Garand. Inland six digit (10-43) M1 Carbine. Rock Island M1903 (1918). Under the rifles are TM's for each rifle, various loading devices filled with dummy cartridges, and the sharp pokey things for each. My wife loves it, telling me that it's a much better idea than my engine block table idea. I think she's a keeper. 
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Quoted:
Dude...that is totally cool! You MUST stain and finish the inside and out to match the rifle furniture...I repeat YOU MUST! No, that's not far enough. You need to treat age the wood. Give it the look of a crate from a museum ala stencils, nicks, and scratches. AWESOME 
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Dude...that is totally cool! You MUST stain and finish the inside and out to match the rifle furniture...I repeat YOU MUST! No, that's not far enough. You need to treat age the wood. Give it the look of a crate from a museum ala stencils, nicks, and scratches. AWESOME also needed the Break glass in case of zombies. sticker |
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Quoted: Dude...that is totally cool! You MUST stain and finish the inside and out to match the rifle furniture...I repeat YOU MUST! You'll want to add some kind of low intensity lighting inside the unit if you stain the inside which will make it darker and harder to see what you're trying to showcase. I'm thinking the amount of light that comes from something like the LED keyboard lights would be sufficient. One on each short side and a couple on each long side. |
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Thanks for the kind words!
The biggest reason I didn't want to stain the inside was so that the ambient light in the room would help light the box. The other reason was so the rifles don't get lost in a dark hole of walnut color. I live where someone is always around. ALWAYS. The security factor isn't a huge issue... 
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A nice oil finish like BLO or Tung oil will take the edge off the bare wood without darkening it much at all. I believe the BLO is the lighter of the two. You would likely have to leave it in the garage for a week or so to let it cure. While I really like the smell of BLO the lady of the house does not.
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Quoted:
That is really Nniiiiiiice!!! Tell the truth, you are single, right? Nope. Not at all single. She happens to like firearms, the carbine in the picture is hers, and her gun collection is growing. I got lucky, she loves riding motorcycles ( she's got 3), camping, hunting, generally playing outside....Definitely married up, fer sure.
To the guys asking about finish, I'm on the fence...I just threw some Benmatte Tungoil finish on the lid so I didn't have to worry about everything soaking into the top. I may give the outside a nice walnut stain and leave the inside light so that the rifles don't disappear in the box... |
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That looks awesome!
In order to properly replicate the desired wood finish on the table, you need to let it soak up YEARS of rifle grease, CR bore cleaner, human sweat, some rain, and just general filth and abuse.
Then, after some 0000 steel wool with denatured alcohol and paper towels followed by some boiled linseed oil, you will find that perfect "M1 reddish brown" color.
You also have to beat the shit out of the table, then steam out the dents with an iron. I also suggest matching coasters made of leather soaked with neatsfoot oil. I've gotten carried away. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Dude...that is totally cool! You MUST stain and finish the inside and out to match the rifle furniture...I repeat YOU MUST! No, that's not far enough. You need to treat age the wood. Give it the look of a crate from a museum ala stencils, nicks, and scratches. AWESOME This Either go all out, or leave it alone |
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Go with a clear, flat coat of something. Don't stain, it'll be too dark.
I think lots of military crates were painted olive drab. You could do that along with stencils to match the size, but not on the inside, that has to be clear coated. I wonder if one could find replica guns for all those rifles, if security was a concern? |
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Quoted:
Go with a clear, flat coat of something. Don't stain, it'll be too dark. I think lots of military crates were painted olive drab. You could do that along with stencils to match the size, but not on the inside, that has to be clear coated. I wonder if one could find replica guns for all those rifles, if security was a concern? I've got a flat clear on the lid, and I think that I'll do that for the rest of the box. I've got a few Korean War era ammo crates, and they're all natural pine...I just don't know which way to go. I do know the next one I make will be out of walnut, or if I can find some older pallets, teak... 
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